Danbury's Davi'On Vines (8) tries to get by Stamford's Matthew Doyle (11) in the high school football game between Danbury and Stamford high schools, Saturday afternoon, September 10, 2016, at Stamford High School, Stamford, Conn. less

Danbury's Davi'On Vines (8) tries to get by Stamford's Matthew Doyle (11) in the high school football game between Danbury and Stamford high schools, Saturday afternoon, September 10, 2016, at Stamford High ... more

It’s a simple equation for the Ridgefield High School football team as it prepares for its annual Thanksgiving showdown with rival Danbury: Beat the Hatters Wednesday night in Danbury, and one of the eight Class LL state playoff spots is secure. Lose to the Hatters and, well, things could get a little dicey.

So the Tigers, who finished ninth in the Class LL playoff rankings last year and missed the playoffs by less than a point, are leaving nothing to chance. As they toiled away on the practice field Monday afternoon, the Tigers paid no mind to the raw, frost-bitten wind that howled through Tiger Hollow, stirring up and sweeping away clusters of dead leaves with relative ease. Because the Tigers realize that, with a lack of focus and a lack of preparation, their playoff hopes could be swept away just as easily.

“They always have some great athletes, so we have to be ready for them,” Tigers senior quarterback Drew Fowler said. “They’re always just one play away from making a big play, so we have to be expecting that. We have to come out and execute our game plan.”

Ridgefield is sixth in the Class LL playoff rankings. The top four undefeated teams — Darien, West Haven, Southington and Newtown — have all clinched playoff spots. The next nine teams are all still alive and battling for the other four playoff spots. The Tigers are in a good place because they control their own destiny — just win and get in.

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RIDGEFIELD (7-2) AT DANBURY (2-7)

LOCATION/TIME: Danbury High School, Wednesday, 6 p.m.

STORYLINES: Ridgefield is in the driver’s seat as far as qualifying for the eight-team Class LL state tournament. The Tigers are sixth in the playoff rankings and can secure their spot with a victory. Ridgefield has won eight of the last 10 meetings between the two border rivals, with Danbury winning in 2006 and 2014.

PLAYER TO WATCH, RIDGEFIELD: Shane Palmer (Senior, 5-9, 165): The wide receiver is key in the Tigers passing, rushing and return games 1,682 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns.

PLAYER TO WATCH, DANBURY: Diante Vines (Sophomore, 5-11, 165) Running back rushed for two touchdowns in the Hatters’ 22-0 victory over McMahon Nov. 4.

QUOTABLE: “We’re tring to get some work done with this crazy weather,” Ridgefield coach Kevin Callahan said. “Hopefully, we’ll be prepared enough to beat a very dynamic team in Danbury, which can score a lot of points.”

LAST SEASON: Ridgefield 48, Danbury 20.

“Last year, it wasn’t really up to us. We had to win and we needed some help,” Fowler said. “This year, it’s all on us. We have to win and we’re in, so we have to come out and compete.”

On paper, this matchup would seem to favor 7-2 Ridgefield over 2-7 Danbury. Of course, high school football isn’t played on paper, and it sometimes can be about as unpredictable as the November weather. The Hatters have multiple weapons, they have speed — and they have nothing to lose.

“They have incredible athletes over there,” Ridgefield coach Kevin Callahan said. “The coach (Alex Trasacco) is doing a great job with them. We’re going to have a challenge, no doubt. I’m really trying to get these guys to settle down and focus on that, because with all this talk about states, it’s hard to not look at it. We respect Danbury for what they do and how good they are. They have so much talent, and we need to be on our game and be aware to be successful.”

Fowler and junior Greg Gatto have combined to throw for more than 2,100 yards and 23 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Shane Palmer has 1,682 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns. Senior Chris Longo has caught 56 passes for 846 yards and four touchdowns, while senior Collin Lowe has caught 32 passes for 561 yards and nine scores. Junior linebacker Noah Isaacson leads the Tigers with 56 tackles and five sacks.

The Tigers last qualified for the state playoffs in 2013, when they clawed their way into the tournament as the eighth and final seed, then stunned top-seeded Newtown in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Southington in the semifinals. The following year, when this year’s seniors were sophomores seeing their first varsity action, Ridgefield went 2-9. It was one of only two losing seasons under Callahan, who took the helm in 1999 and has led Ridgefield to the state playoffs five times.

Amid the rubble of that 2-9 season in 2014, however, was the foundation for this year’s success.

“These kids got thrown into the fire,” Callahan said. “It’s kind of gratifying to see things come to fruition, where they’ve gone through the tough times. Those guys have so much experience right now, and we feel like we’re doing some really nice things. Hopefully, we can make some noise if we can get a chance to get in, if we can get by Danbury — which is a big ‘if.’”

Last year, the Tigers watched as Staples, a team they had beaten, made the state tournament ahead of them.

“That was very difficult to swallow,” Callahan said. “We’re excited about trying to get an opportunity to go back.”

Ridgefield has won eight of the last 10 Thanksgiving clashes with Danbury, including last year’s 48-20 triumph at Tiger Hollow. Danbury won 34-6 in 2014, and 26-21 in 2006.